Spa Trouble Shooting Tips...

1. Do I need to use a water clarifier when using an ozonator?
   
   
2. Why is my spa foaming?
   
   
3. After shutting the spa off, odd-shaped white chips appear on the bottom. What is this and where does it coming from?
   
   
4. Should I treat my spa water the same as I treat my pool water?
   
   
5. Why not use soft water in my spa?
   
   
6. Help! I have water balancing trouble following a spa refill.
   
   
7. How often should I "shock" my spa water?
   
   
8. My spa's solid-state electronic controls display error or gibberish messages.
   
   
9. What does it mean if my Sundance Spa is displaying "FLO?"
   
   
10. What does it mean if my Sundance Spa is displaying dashes (----) known as a watchdog?
    
    
11. My electrician is wiring my Sundance spa, what amperage do we need?
    
    
12. What is the best way to clean a filter?
    
    
13. Do I need to use a sanitizer as well as an ozonator?
    
    
14. Why is my spa not heating?
    
    
15. My OZONE is humming, is there something wrong?
    
    
16. My spa has no power or is not heating and it is a cold winter day, what do I do?
    
    
17. The Sundance circulation pump on my spa is not working.
    
    
18. My Moto-Massage is not properly working?

1. Do I need to use a clarifier when using an ozonator? Back
   While ozone is highly effective at oxidizing, it does not destroy clarifiers, or make them ineffective. Clarifiers are beneficial in ozonated spas by bringing the particles together helping the filter pick them up and keep the water clean.
   
   
2. Why is my spa foaming? Back
   There are several possible reasons for spa foam. One common cause is the rapidly moving water interacting with bathers who have soaps and detergents on their bodies and bathing suits. Showering before entering the spa helps prevent this problem, as well as using a de-foamer, such as Leisure Time FOAM DOWN. Also, do not wash swim suits in washing machine as the soap stays in the fabric, hand wash and rinse thoroughly.
   
   Another cause of foam is soft water. You should raise the calcium level to 150-400 ppm.
   Organic waste build-up is a third cause. "Shocking" the spa on a regular basis oxidizes the wastes out of the water. See below for "shocking" instructions.
   
   
3. After shutting the spa off, odd-shaped white chips appear on the bottom. What is this and where does it coming from? Back
   Calcium deposits appear as scale on the heater elements. It flakes off from the action of the blowers and jets. Leisure Time SPA DEFENDER, can prevent this scaling with a weekly application.
   
   
4. Should I treat my spa water the same as I treat my pool water? Back
   While pH and total alkalinity requirements are the same, the bromine or chlorine sanitizer levels and actual product for a spa should are different; the level for a spa needs to be kept between 3-5 ppm. Spa filters require more frequent cleaning. In addition, the water requires more frequent care to assure correct pH and sanitizer levels. This is due to the fact that a spa contains less water than a pool, and the water is hot rather than cold. For further information, please see our Spa Maintenance Schedule Programs.
   
   
5. Why not use soft water in my spa? Back
   Soft water has a low calcium level. Too little calcium can cause corrosion, especially in heaters and other metal components. To increase water hardness to the recommended level of 250-450 ppm, add a product such as Leisure Time CALCIUM BOOSTER. Conversely, too much calcium can cause wall and heating element scaling or cloudy water. Leisure Time SPA DEFENDER will prevent scale/calcium buildup. Back
   
   
6. Help! I have water balancing trouble following a spa refill. Back
   The pH is low and the total alkalinity is high. Adjust the low reading first whenever the pH and the total alkalinity are opposite of one another. For example, add a pH increaser until it is within a normal pH range. Then, adjust total alkalinity by adding a pH level reducer. After you have completed this process and your pH and alkalinity are in the appropriate range, you are now able to use Leisure Time's pH BALANCE to lock these characteristics into place for up to three months.
   
   
7. How often should I "shock" my spa water? Back
   Frequency depends on the sanitizer and the bather load. If you are using the two-part bromine sanitizing system, we recommend that you shock each time you finish using your spa. If you are using chlorine or bromine tablets, we recommend that you shock at least once a week. If there are many bathers, or the water gets cloudy, shock more often.
   
   
8. My spa's solid-state electronic controls display error or gibberish messages. Back
   Shut off the power supply to the spa for about 45 minutes. Then reset the power and check the system. Sometimes this "reboot" procedure clears up the problem.
   
   
9. What do I do if my Sundance Spa is displaying "FLO?" Back
   Turn the power off to the spa at the main breaker: Take out the filter out of the spa (make sure that nothing is floating in the spa that could get sucked into the filter area). After leaving the spa off for 45 minutes turn the spa back on and turn both pumps and air on for 45 minutes. If FLO message goes away, either replace the filter with a new filter or thoroughly clean your existing (non-disposable) filter by soaking the filter in a solution of 16 oz. Filter Clean overnight and rinsing it until you see no residue in the rinse water.
   
   If the water has been changed recently and the filter has been cleaned, there may be an air lock. To resolve: remove the filter, not forgetting to power down the spa at the breaker, and place a garden hose in the opening where the filter was; this leads into the plumbing. Next, turn the hose on at full force to dissipate the air bubble. Alternatively, again with the power to the spa turned off, remove the large diverter knob by pulling straight up then loosening the diverter nut to allow the air to dissipate. Back
   
   
10. What does it mean if my Sundance Spa is displaying dashes (----) known as a "watchdog"? Back
    Turn off the circuit breaker for at least 45 minutes, and then turn back on. This will reset the spa.
    
    
11. My electrician is wiring my Sundance spa, what amperage do we need? Back
    Enabling 60 Amp logic on a spa will allow pumps, the air blower and the heater to run simultaneously.
    
    • 850 & 880 Series: Place a jumper on JP9 # 7, located ¾ of the way down on the left side of the circuit board.
      
      
    • 780 Sweetwater and Portofino series:
      To enable 60 Amp logic on a Sweetwater or Portifino spa, place a jumper on JP1 # 5/6, located in the top right corner of the circuit board Back
      
      
    
    

12. What is the best way to clean a cartridge filter? Back
    Use a filter cleaner designed specifically for cartridges. They contain both acids and detergents and ensure that all oils, lotions and minerals will be removed from the filter. Proper cleaning increases the longevity of the cartridge. Clean your cartridge filter once a month.
    PS - Using a dishwasher on rinse cycle only will clean out the larger debris, but can also damage the fabric on the filter unless you are using Tri-X filters from HotSpring. If you are not sure which filter you have, contact any of us at N.E.S.S. Back
    
    

13. Do I need to use a sanitizer as well as an ozonator? Back
    We recommend using both. Even though ozone is an effective oxidizer, destroying microorganisms, ozone has a relatively short life in hot water. Ozone is not present for a sufficient length of time to assure adequate sanitation of an entire tub, including the surfaces and plumbing. An ozonator, however, does reduce chlorine or bromine consumption. Back

14. Why is my spa not heating? Back
    Make sure:
    1. The water is at a level which covers all of the jets as this affects the water flow through the heater.
    
    2. The filter has been cleaned within the last four weeks by soaking it in FILTER CLEAN and that filter is not older than 18 months. In order to test whether or not the filter is the cause of a no-heat situation, turn the power off to the spa at the main breaker: Take out the filter out of the spa (make sure that nothing is floating in the spa that could get sucked into the filter area). After leaving the spa off for 45 minutes turn the spa back on to see if it begins heating.
    
    3. The controls are set in continuous heat mode (standard thermostat) and/or programmed for several hours of heating.
    
    4. Is SPA DEFENDER used biweekly? This prevents calcium buildup on the heater, which will lead to inefficient heat transfer.
    
    5. If Sundance Spa:
    
    • Shut off the spa and remove the filter.
      
    • Check mode. When in economy mode, spa models earlier than 1999 will heat only when jets are activated or during filter cycles. Back
      
      
15. My OZONE is humming, is there something wrong? Back
    Ozone humming is normal. It is the vibration of ozone being sucked through the Mazzi Injector. Back
    
    
16. My spa has no power or is not heating and it is a cold winter day, what do I do? Back
    If the spa has no power, or is not heating, place a droplight with a 60 or 75-watt bulb inside the access panel over pump one. (Facing control panel, usually behind right wooden section) Make sure it is not touching any components, wires, or insulation and replace the wooden panel to the best of your ability. Leave the cover on the spa to retain as much heat as possible.
    Back
    
    
17. The Sundance circulation pump on my spa is not working. Back
    All Sundance models are equipped with a safety feature called "Summer Logic" . This feature turns off the circulation pump when the water temperature in the spa rises to 2 degrees Fahrenheit above the set temperature. This phenomenon can occur in warmer weather because the circulation pump adds heat (while running) through the process of convection. If the ambient air temperature is hot, the water does not cool as quickly and retains the heat for a longer period. Back
    
    Summer Logic disables the circulation pump and the heater to decrease the spa's water temperature. If the circulation pump is off (no bubbles), the spa is not heating and appears dead. Fill the spa with cool water and change filter cycles from daytime to evening, when the temperature is cooler. Consider running the air bubbles in the evening's cooler air-with the cover off, as this will assist in cooling the water. Back
    
    
18. My Moto-Massage is not working properly. Back
    The number one cause is a clogged filter. Make sure your filter with the gray knob has been cleaned within the last four weeks by soaking in FILTER CLEAN and that the filter is not older than 18 months, unless it is a Tri-X filter. In this case you need to soak the filter if it has been more than three months, if less than three months, please run your filter through the rinse cycle on your dishwasher with NO DISHSOAP and NO DRYING CYCLE.
    
    A quick test to see if the spa filter is the cause: Turn the power off to the spa at the main breaker then take out the filter with the gray knob (make sure that nothing is floating in the spa that could get sucked into the filter area). Turn the spa back on without the filter to see if it begins operating properly. Back